In which a group of graying eternal amateurs discuss their passions, interests and obsessions, among them: movies, art, politics, evolutionary biology, taxes, writing, computers, these kids these days, and lousy educations.

Poor Bolivia, caught in a classic double-bind: eager to take part in the legitimate trading-and-bargaining of the modern world, yet cursed by the fact that the product in which they have their strongest comparative advantage is the coca leaf. Did David Ricardo anticipate this particular conundrum?

So it's good to read Newsweek's Jimmy Langman reporting that Bolivian scientists and entrepreneurs have been busy figuring out fresh uses for the coca leaf. Interesting passage:

In Bolivia, industrial production of coca tea began in the 1980s, and since 2000, small companies have put out some 30 different products -- coca bread and pastas, toothpaste and shampoo, ointments, candies, liquors. The Morales government recently set aside $1 million to further develop legal coca products. One company now has a soft drink called "Evo Cola" in the works.

I wonder if we'll be importing Evo Cola any time soon. It sounds like a refreshing, indeed downright energizing, beverage.